Black Culture Discussion Thread

Drones said:
Your whole life you've been told you only exist because of the kindness of whites, that your genesis was being a slave dragged out of a dump (Africa) and that you should be grateful to be here. Then someone tells you that you're not a slave, you're descended from kings, queens, and vast history that dwarfs the couple hundred years you've been here...and you say you'd rather stick to the lie that you're only a slave and MLK is your only leader/hero of worth.

I'm not saying this to school you because I think you're already too far gone, I'm saying this to show people the mentality of some of the Negroes out here in 2014.
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Man preach!
 
hallywoodxo said:
I spoke too soon. If that's what works for you more power to you. I hope you see the success beyond that of Jay-Z and Russell Simmons.
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This is complete immaturity on my part...but of all the people I named, all you saw was Jay-z and Russell Simmons. Like, thats the problem with the black community, even when cats try/think they are giving a compliement or whatever, they pick out whatever they see as the bad part and try to highlight that, as if I didn't list them along side El Shabazz and Martin Luther King...IDK man, I think black people need a change of ideas, the way we've been thinking for the last ten or so years have done so much damage, this psuedo - intellectual holier than thou attitude. Whats wrong with the type of success Jay-z and Russell found? Who would be someone "beyond" that? It's cloaked in that same "I know whats better for you than you do" mentality that older folks have been trying to force in the ears of the younger generation. I think Iwould be perfectly happy if I got insanely rich doing something I love while helping a bunch of people along the way?

Like I said, completely immature rant, but I'll be damned if the way black folk talk to me doesn't make me angry. It's either this or that, right or left, I think it's more a consequence of internet culture, but thats another story.

And who the hell knows that I, specifically, was descended form a king? like don't they only have very specific and detailed bloods line or were all those kings from Atilla the Hun school of conquest? And, just being a king isn't that dope, there were plenty of bad kings throughout history (Henry the VIII), what if we were one of them? Point I'm making, all that "king history" is a pat on the back, it's  not bad to learn but it is bad to act like A) its the only good part of history (like how am I the only one constantly mentioning two of the greatest leaders this world has ever known?) B) it somehow makes us better, hard work makes one better, not some false idea of kings.

The "we are kings" rhetoric doesn't help, the "we are equal" rhetoric has done wonders for me and my friends.
 
To keep it short, jay-z and Russell Simmons bow down to the same international bankers that you likely worship and would be the source of your wealth you desire to obtain.

MLK was nothing but a govt ploy to resolve an aggressively growing black pride movement. When they accomplished what they wanted with him they shot him like a dog in the streets.

I don't care about money, holding hands with the rest of the world or none of that. I Just want the truth and where I come from. It just happens to be that a lot of that information comes from Africa so that's what I'm going to draw on my inspiration from.

I get that you feel like Egypt/Africa is a distant memory, but everything you have in today's society comes from the efforts of those people. And I literally mean everything from the architecture to the bastardized Latin we speak called English.


I'm not trying to come at you, just sharing my point of view. Like many have said we've got too many issues to discuss what makes us different. With that said if were talking about building something organic then can we at least make the foundation the truth? I'd go on a limb to say pretty much everything today is built on lies and corruption, therefore you can see it hasn't produced any good fruits or products with longevity.

What it boils down to is you do everything in life according to who you are. So something to think about who is who you are and how did you develop your personal image.
 
Idk man, Gutenberg was German, Pythagoras was middle eastern, Jesus was a Jew...

I mean, don't y'all ever get tired of saying 'they distorted history' then walking around with a distorted history yourself? Unless you're translating these texts yourself you're only reading what one person thought, even still, reading a first hand account is still just some guys impressions. Any of us could easily write a history book and future generations take it as gospel.

It's not to say don't read history, in fact I'm somewhat of an American history scholar, where we came from is important, but to say 'their books lie' as if your books don't (and theyre not really lies a lot of the time, just different perspectives) is to twist history into something hateful.

History should never be used to spread hate, it should be used to avoid it.
 
LIONBLOOD said:
It's not an opinion its a fact. They should teach more African history in middle and high school in black neighborhoods. Whenever people bring up Egypt in these discussions it becomes painfully clear they know NOTHING about Africa. I think I was destined to become a historian but my life took me down a different path, history gives me a boner.


Many black people make up history, albeit with good intentions. I see you have a Black Jesus in your avy. Jesus had nothing to do with Africa, however the story of Jesus is an African myth stolen from an archetype seen in many religious traditions.
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@LIONBLOOD

I'm well aware of what Jesus is about. I have that in my Avy to symbolize the Christ energy. It has nothing to do with what the Greek/Romans have tried to make a literal historical figure.

I'm on my history. I'm not someone who spews facts to satisfy my ego or to feed into the Afrocentrism train.


am1x90xnike am1x90xnike

I feel what you're saying. At some point you've gotta be rational and decide what works for you as far as history. The reason I cite kemetic/Egyptian history as my resources is because they were immaculate in their historical records and built things that stood the test time of time.
 
LIONBLOOD said:
lol actually there is evidence that Jesus was a literal human being. :lol: Let's look at a new religion from this country, Mormonism. Joseph Smith existed. People question the existence of Jesus because it was so long ago, I believe Jesus Christ existed. I don't believe he is the son of God. He was probably a regular human being who rebelled against a dictatorship and gained the support of the masses and became deified.


BDW there's nothing "immaculate" about Egyptian historic records. Egypt has been conquered so many times, and the history has been changed so often that it isn't pure. Today Egypt is pretty much a middle eastern country. It's been conquered by Arabs, the Greek, etc. Egyptians look nothing like dark Africans, although I suspect they once did. Eastern Africa is different from where African American slaves were taken from. Blacks in this country are descendants of Africans in Liberia, Senegal, Nigeria etc.
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Again, aware of all that. And Yeshua Pandera is probably the closest thing you're going to get for a real Jesus. Even then he was a regular man who just went to the Egyptian mystery schools.




And were not the descendants of those people. We may have lived in those countries when we were sold into slavery, but where do you think all the kemetic people went when they were forced out of Egypt.

Not saying this is you, but if you pay attention all the "gods" and spirituality can all be traced back to a starting point with origins in easts Africa. And with that said, what does all their history mean and what is it trying to convey?


And I still stand by what I said, the Egyptians were immaculate in keeping their records. That has little to do with how it was perverted with those who came after.

Either way, this thread isn't a pissing contest for who knows the most history.


@OlDirtyReseller

I think stuff like what you're doing is gonna bring about the change. It's gotta be small concentrated efforts that are cordial and can't be commercialized.
 
am1x90xnike said:
Why would Africa anything help us? We not seeing them restoration checks. My folks are from Southern Maryland and Alabama...honestly I care bout as much for Africa as I do for Europe...it's cool, but they ain't us, and I'm working on us. There are African Americans that can fight that Africa fight, I'm fighting for the Negro.


Goes back to is wanting to be something were not, we ain't African, we share some History, but culturally, genetically, socially, mentally, we ain't African and I'm not wearing some disheki to perpetuate that nonsense.
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God this is so ignorant.. this the same person in a white frat so I guess no surprise here.
 
I don't know why people can't discuss things without all the attitude
 
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Wait, I know American history pretty damn well. What do y'all mean 'hide' the books are there if you care to read. I never understood that, it's one thing when someone only knows what high school has taught them, it's another thing when someone has read the material for themselves.

Honestly, I suggest everyone read 'being wrong' by Katherine Schultz, it'll put life in perspective. Specifically, this idea that because I don't agree with you I'm somehow ignorant.

But, to @lion blood for actually answering my inquiry, you say knowing helps builds community, but wouldn't that energy be better spent talking about things THAT community actually did? Talking heritage is cool, and African history should be taught in tandem with the rest of them. However, id much rather have kids focus on local history over foreign history, fact is, they are Marylanders, and Massachuttians, those stories are of their neighbors and friends, people they can really touch.

As a person who's in the era of mass incarceration, the son of a mother from civil rights, grandmother in Jim Crow, great grandfather in chattel slavery...nah I don't need to go to romantic kings in Africa to find my pride, we break chains, we bust through glass ceilings, we got from building blocks to owning blocks with stadiums on top, from corners to corner offices,...if you got a problem with it...*Ye shrugs*
 
It's not whether I believe it, as an American citizen I'm part of that history everyday I spend still here. I have the option to leave. I stay, I shoulder that, I shoulder living in a country that hates me, but this is the land if my forefathers and I ain't leaving.

Until my history is straight, until MY people are good, I'm not concerning myself with the atrocities of other nations. One thing at a time.

I'm not 'African American' and Africans aren't my people anymore than Europeans or Asians are my people, on the individual basis absolutely, but as a whole, nah I'm a Negro. because I've experienced some true racism from Africans, they on they on the list too.
 
Learning a lot in this thread, am1 you're smart dude. I think your logic can be applied to many Americans nowadays, Not just black. More power to you.
 
am1x90xnike said:
It's not whether I believe it, as an American citizen I'm part of that history everyday I spend still here. I have the option to leave. I stay, I shoulder that, I shoulder living in a country that hates me, but this is the land if my forefathers and I ain't leaving.

Until my history is straight, until MY people are good, I'm not concerning myself with the atrocities of other nations. One thing at a time.

I'm not 'African American' and Africans aren't my people anymore than Europeans or Asians are my people, on the individual basis absolutely, but as a whole, nah I'm a Negro. because I've experienced some true racism from Africans, they on they on the list too.
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understatement 
 
Our people are lazy. First and foremost, point, blank, period. We expect instant results and want instant gratification for everything we do. We have this "40 acres and a mule" "I deserve my reparations" for things that have been done in the past attitude. We need to move past that. Never forget it, and use it as fuel and inspiration to succeed even more so in the future. These white people ain't going to give you ****. Hell, these days, you own brother ain't giving you ****. So you know "the white man" ain't giving you a damn thing. Even if he owed it to you. Which he doesn't.

We need to give back into ourselves. We have HBCU's for a reason. I wish I had gone to one looking back. Not only do these schools teach unity within a people on campus, but its putting money back into our own people. Investing in ourselves through education. Our ancestors died and fought for the right to learn, and eventually made their own schools for our people, and now we take them for granted. We'd rather go to white schools on scholarships for sports or on "black" scholarships in hopes to make it to "the league" or to surround ourselves with more diverse people, which is fine. Yes, you should broaden your knowledge in cultures and move among other races/cultures and learn about the world first hand through interaction. But I'm going to tell you this, **** THE LEAGUE BRUH. These hoop dreams that the black man holds on to so tightly, these dreams of becoming a rapper, or these goals to become some other **** that isn't giving back to our community is BS. How many cats out here hopping actually make it to the league? How many of these "rappers" make it big? Why not go to an HBCU? Why not become educated? Become a lawyer so you can defend your brother in court? Why not become a doctor so you can heal the wounded in your neighborhood? Why not major in business and open grocery stores, barbershops, gas stations, etc in the community so you can provide jobs for your brothers and sisters? Why not aspire to not only make money, but to become educated and to help provide for your COMMUNITY? It all starts with education. Something we weren't ALLOWED to have many years ago, and something that our youth and even many adults now don't WANT.

There is also a problem with MISEDUCATION in our culture/community. Black children growing up not knowing their culture, their history, etc. This **** needs to be addressed.

Black people need to stop looking to Jay-Z, Beyonce, Diddy, Oprah, Kanye, Rick Ross, etc for influence. These people are ENTERTAINERS. Not SOCIAL LEADERS. These people aren't who's running our county/state governments. These aren't who patrol our streets. These people aren't out here doing a damn thing for you buy taking your money. Yet whenever theres a social issue, people look to find out what _______ thinks about the current issues in the world. We shouldn't give a damn about what Jay-Z thinks. He isn't out here protesting unless it puts money back in his pockets. This ***** ain't no better than Jesse Jacksons money hungry ***. Whens the last time you heard Jay-Z on the radio pushing support for protests? Pushing the importance of education? Out here doing anything for his people that doesn't involve making them spend money on nonsense and rapping on stage about how he's doing so much better than you in life? It literally is the blind leading the blind. Because he himself is blind to whats going on in the community. Either that or he just doesn't give a ****. All of them. They can't say a damn word, because they know who's paying them. Jay Z is not a leader of the people. Hip hop gossip is not what we should be listening to on the radio or reading on the internet. Yes its cool for casual free time, entertainment. But I swear I cringe every time someone talks about how these entertainers should be the voice of our people. NO the hell they shouldn't. It starts right at home with your parents, then in school with your teachers, your police officers, state government officials, etc. THOSE are the voices that lead our youth. Not these ignorant money makers leeching the life out of us, and guiding our youth into oblivion.

Theres a reason why every kid wants to be a rapper, ball player, drug dealer, etc. Its because thats whats being forced into their minds every damn day. You got these rappers telling these stories to kids, and they follow. You have adults acting blind to the fact that this music is effecting the youth with such power, and the advancement of technology/the internet only makes it worse. These kids think these entertainers are real life. Kids don't want to grow up being blue collar workers, the foundation for a community. They all want gold chains, fancy cars, expensive clothes, and to party all the time. Its a disconnect from reality. The attention of our youth needs to be taken back. Kids need to grow up wanting to be contributors to their neighborhoods and communities. Not living vicariously through these songs on the radio.

We need to learn to love one another, AND people of other races. Black men need to stop killing black men. In Chicago and everywhere else in our country. Black women need to stop hating each other just because ________ has xyz. Black men need to stop mistreating our black women, and most importantly, we need to stop reproducing at such a high rate. ESPECIALLY out of wedlock. The black man is missing in many homes. Yet somehow, kits are being born everyday. Black people are so damn addicted to sex and drugs. Its sort of sickening. The family needs to come back to the african american culture. Without family values, we are doomed overall, because this is something I feel especially is whats dividing us the most. You can't teach our children in the home if there isn't a home. And there is no home without a family. The family is torn apart because black men and women are out here destroying each other. Its sex, killing, and drugs.


There are a ton of other things. Many things already brought up in this thread, but these were some things that came to mind first when I saw the OP.

I might chime back in later with more responses, but for now this is all I've got the nervy to type at once. I'm tired.

/rant.
 
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I wanna touch on the music for a second.

If you know what music IS on a spiritual and fundamental level...nobody would EVER fix their mouths to say that it is entertainment ever again. The fact that jewish men and the italian rat jimmy iovine...have singlehandedly controlled OUR music for decades should let you know that something isn't right. Go find me another art form or culture...that isn't controlled by the people who birthed it.

I'll wait.

We've let these ******** package and flip black death like it's ******* Pepsi...and let them get away with telling us that it's entertainment. Music is a gift from (whatever you wanna call it) that makes us FEEL. It speaks to our soul and causes rhythm. Why do you think babies can dance without even seeing it? At a certain age...they just simply bop as a reaction to it. It's technology. Artists like Michael Jackson didn't have people all over the world crying from just seeing him...simply because he "entertained" them. 

This ******** that they turned our music into...instills a certain way of thinking. A certain behavior. Think of every major trend culturally...both positive and negative...and tell me that Hip-Hop didn't have anything to do with it. There's a reason it's the most powerful influencer in the world. 

You people can't POSSIBLY be so dense as to think it's only because people like beats and words. 

 
 
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VICTOR PAGE said:
I wanna touch on the music for a second.

If you know what music IS on a spiritual and fundamental level...nobody would EVER fix their mouths to say that it is entertainment ever again. The fact that jewish men and the italian rat jimmy iovine...have singlehandedly controlled OUR music for decades should let you know that something isn't right. Go find me another art form or culture...that isn't controlled by the people who birthed it.

I'll wait.

We've let these ******** package and flip black death like it's ******* Pepsi...and let them get away with telling us that it's entertainment. Music is a gift from (whatever you wanna call it) that makes us FEEL. It speaks to our soul and causes rhythm. Why do you think babies can dance without even seeing it? At a certain age...they just simply bop as a reaction to it. It's technology. Artists like Michael Jackson didn't have people all over the world crying from just seeing him...simply because he "entertained" them. 

This ******** that they turned our music into...instills a certain way of thinking. A certain behavior. Think of every major trend culturally...both positive and negative...and tell me that Hip-Hop didn't have anything to do with it. There's a reason it's the most powerful influencer in the world. 

You people can't POSSIBLY be so dense as to think it's only because people like beats and words. 



 
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So if Jay-Z and Kanye aren't entertainers, what are they?

I get what you're saying, and agree to an extent. But at the same time, people who do what they do, and by do I mean rap about what they rap about, or who aren't actively hand on in the community should never, at any point, be a voice thats at the center of attention when it comes to matters of the world.

When they start making music about empowering the people, and educating through their music, then they will be of importance on a grand scale.
 
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Repped. victor page victor page you make a really good point that people have a really hard time understanding.
Music is SO much more than entertainment. It is one of the most powerful forces in the universe(as we know it)
And as the music gets worse, so do our communities. It is actually one of the MAIN problems plauging our communities and mindsets all at once.

Be back later for a response to the thread but I just wanted to comment on that.
 
PRIME said:
So if Jay-Z and Kanye aren't entertainers, what are they?
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I never said they weren't entertainers.

I said MUSIC isn't only entertainment. The other role it plays is MUCH bigger than entertainment.

Which is why the both of them are such huge influencers.

How can two men have enough power to literally influence what people wear...simply because they "entertain" those people?
 
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